 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Mysterious
Date: 2000-09-11 03:51
Hi! I just bought a used clarinet and need some good beginners tips. How do you make a good steady sound come out of the clarinet? I am curling my lips over my teeth and trying to keep steady pressure on the reed, but I am not sure that I am doing it right. By chance I get the right sound to come out, but then I loose it. Also I have marks on my lips where they were curled over my teeth and they are sore. Is this normal and will I get used to it?
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Author: Pam
Date: 2000-09-11 18:20
Welcome! I hope others will discuss embouchure a little for you or just do a search of the word. I know there has been plenty of discussion on here already on that topic.
Your lips will "toughen up" over time and you will be able to play for longer periods of time without pain. Keep practicing and I would recommend that you begin lessons to help you get started. (Though, some on here are self-taught.)
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Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-09-11 20:07
Hi, Mysterious,
and I, too, would like to Welcome you to the world of clarinet playing.
Is there anyone you know who plays clarinet who can show you how it's done?
We don't know a thing about your situation - other than you have a used horn that you'd like to play.
Did you get the instrument from a music store, pawn shop, Goodwill, individual or... ? This is not meant to be a negative response at all. If you got it from a music store, someone there (I hope) can show you the basic 'how to' of getting a tone out of the thing. If you got it somewhere else you'll need to give more information for anyone to help you here.
Initially, we'll need to know more about the horn, mouthpiece, reed, etc. than how you're trying to blow it.
True, as Pam said, many here are self taught. But, believe me, every 'self taught' player got a lot of advice from other players along the way. So, you're not alone.
ron b.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-09-11 22:29
Perhaps you are putting too much pressure on the reed. It would be very helpful to have either a teacher or experienced player check you out.
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Author: Eoin
Date: 2000-09-11 23:47
It is certainly better to be taught than to try and do it yourself, but it is possible to teach yourself. I taught myself for the first two years and didn't pick up too many bad habits.
You say you curl your lips over your teeth. It is only the bottom lip that has to be curled over your teeth. The reed should rest on your bottom lip. You may curl your top lip over your top teeth if you like. This is called "double embouchure". Many people think it is a great way to play the clarinet, but it hurts like hell. Most people use "single lip embouchure", where your top teeth rest on the top of the mouthpiece. You then close your lips around the whole lot and hold the sides of your mouth tight so prevent air escaping.
At the start, just blow. Don't worry about using your tongue. Play a few notes: G is all the holes open. F is thumb hole covered. You'll need to look at a fingering chart to get the rest because I'm not going to list them here. Don't go higher than B flat. When you are reasonably good at playing these notes, practise tonguing. This is starting each note by touching the tip of the reed with the tip of your tongue. It will sound awful at first, but you must practise. Every note should eventually start this way.
That's enough for the moment.
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Author: William
Date: 2000-09-12 00:42
If you are just starting, I have two suggestins to add. One, do not practice too long at any one time. "Rome wasn't built in a day." Half hour sessions are usually sufficient if done on a regular basis. Two, don't use too siff a reed. A Number 2-21/2 strength is all you need if your mouthpiece is average and not too open at the tip. You should be able to sustain an open G (no fingers) easily for 15 seconds or more. If the sound still seems hard to get and is airy (more leaking air than sound, and the reed is not cracked) try a 11/2 strength. Welcome to the wonderful world of clarinet--GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!
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Author: Mysterious
Date: 2000-09-12 00:51
Thank you all for your advice! I do plan to be taught, but I just wanted to get familiar with the clarinet before my lessons start. EOIN: I totally agree with you about covering your top teeth; It hurts! RON B.: I really don't know that much about the clarinet. It is plastic is a Vito and more than five years old. I think it is sop. What key? I don't know. The person I bought it from said that it was recently in the shop and is in tune. I have no idea what size the reed is. It seems pretty thick and stiff.
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Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-09-12 15:32
A Vito, recently serviced, soprano(Bb) - you should be perfectly fine with it, Mysterious. You might try, as mentioned above, two or three different strength(number) reeds - (buy only one of each for now) - to get a feel for the difference that will make in blowing your horn. Usually a softer(lower number) reed will be easier. Don't 'bite'.
The main idea is to have fun with it :]
ron b.
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Author: Mysterious
Date: 2000-09-14 04:59
The reed I am using is a 3 and I can blow with it now! I haven't had a chance to get to the music store and get a lower number. I am back to double embouchure. I find that I like it better. My lips are already getting stronger. When I do single embouchure I find that I do bite and I end up hurting my teeth. Is double supposed to be better? Also, what is the purpose of resting the tip of the tounge on the tip of the reed? Is it just give the notes more flavor?
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Author: Mysterious
Date: 2000-09-14 05:01
The reed I am using is a 3 and I can blow with it now! I haven't had a chance to get to the music store and get a lower number. I am back to double embouchure. I find that I like it better. My lips are already getting stronger. When I do single embouchure I find that I do bite and I end up hurting my teeth. Is double supposed to be better? Also, what is the purpose of resting the tip of the tounge on the tip of the reed? Is it just give the notes more flavor?
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